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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 11 May 2022
the 2016 presidential cam-
paign, leaving the seat
open for Trump to fill after
he won the White House.
And even though McCon-
nell insisted Tuesday there
is "zero" interest among Re-
publicans to change Sen-
ate filibuster rules to make
it easier to pass an abortion
ban, it was the GOP leader
who orchestrated the Sen-
ate rules change to allow
51-vote threshold to con-
firm Supreme Court nomi-
nees.
"Republicans have worked
day in and day out for de-
cades on end to overturn
Roe v Wade," said Sen. Pat-
ty Murray, D-Wash.
More likely is that both par-
ties will try to chip away at
the issue — Republicans
tightening access to abor-
tion at the national level,
while Democrats work to
shore up the availability of
medicinal abortions and
other related services.
"There are multiple fronts
we can move on," said Sen.
Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
In the House, where Dem-
ocrats have the majority,
lawmakers approved the
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters ahead of a procedural vote on Wednesday to essentially
codify Roe v. Wade, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Women's Health Protection
Associated Press Act last year on a largely
part line vote once the Su-
Continued from Front push past Democratic ob- law." bill as too broad. preme Court first signaled
In recent years, abortion jections. Both parties face enormous At the same time, Demo- it was considering the issue
access debates in many In an interview with USA To- pressure to convince voters crats have largely panned by allowing a Texas law's
ways have come to a day, McConnell recently they are doing all they can the Collins-Murkowski ef- ban on abortions to take
standstill in Congress, a po- said, "If the leaked opinion — the Democrats working fort as insufficient, leaving effect.
litical draw, as lawmakers became the final opinion, to preserve abortion ac- no hopes, for now, of any But the bill has languished in
faced the limits of trying to legislative bodies – not cess and the Republicans compromise. the Senate, evenly split 50-
move public policy beyond only at the state level but to end it — as they race And rank-and-file Republi- 50 with Democratic control
the historic Roe v. Wade at the federal level – cer- toward fall when control of cans distanced themselves because of Vice President
court decision. Bills would tainly could legislate in that Congress is at stake in the from McConnell's initial Kamala Harris' ability to
routinely come up for votes area." elections. remarks, saying an all-out cast a tie-braking vote. Un-
— to expand or limit abor- But on Tuesday McCon- The congressional cam- national ban on abortions able to mount the 60 votes
tion services — only to fall nell acknowledged that if paign committees are is not something they can needed to overcome a fili-
along typically party line Republicans become the fundraising off the abortion deliver. buster, a test vote failed in
votes or be stripped out of majority in the Senate they issue, and working furiously "The reality is is that you February, with one Demo-
broader legislative pack- still are unlikely to have to energize voters who are would never get that crat, Sen. Joe Manchin of
ages. enough votes to ban abor- already primed to engage done here," said Sen. Mike West Virginia, joining Re-
But the Supreme Court's tion outright. when such a long-running Rounds, R-S.D. publicans to block the bill's
conservative 6-3 majority, "The widespread sentiment and important issue for Democrats are uncon- consideration.
solidified during the Trump in my conference is this is- millions of Americans is at vinced that Republicans, A similar outcome is ex-
era, has ignited an urgent sue will be dealt with at stake. who have fought for years pected Wednesday when
shift to the forefront in Con- the state level," McConnell The two Republican sena- to deny abortion services, the Senate tries again to
gress. said. He said Republicans tors who support abortion would give that fight up pass the legislation, which
McConnell stunned Wash- won't have the 60 votes access, Lisa Murkowski of now and let the states de- would put the guaranteed
ington when he said "it's needed to overcome a fili- Alaska, who faces her own cide. Democrats believe right to abortion into law.
possible" to see a national buster. reelection in November, Republicans are "running It's the first of what Schumer
abortion ban. Likewise, Democrat Brian and Susan Collins of Maine, scared," Schumer said, promises will be repeated
The Republican leader has Schatz of Hawaii said for have proposed a separate afraid of what they have efforts to show voters where
been a key architect of the other side, "I think we bill that would counter the unleashed, with polls show- the parties stand.
the Supreme Court's solid have to be explicit and tell Supreme Court's action. ing most Americans want "This is no longer just a ab-
conservative majority, en- the truth, which is, we don't But both senators, who to preserve some access stract exercise: Now we
gineering rapid-fire confir- currently have the votes." voted to confirm most of to abortion. It was McCo- know women's rights are
mation of three of Donald Still, he said hopefully that if Trump's justices, are ex- nnell who blocked Barack at stake," Schumer said.
Trump's nominees in just voters elect more senators pected to stick with their Obama's choice of Mer- "So this vote is the first step.
four years and changing who favor abortion rights, Republican Party this week rick Garland to fill a court We are going to keep
Senate filibuster rules to "we will put this into federal and block the Democratic vacancy at the start of fighting."q